South Africa denounces auction of Mandela's cell key

Nelson Mandela, during a visit to his former cell on Robben Island with then US President Bill Clinton, near Cape Town, March 27, 1998. AP - Scott Applewhite

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South Africa has learned, via the British press, that the key to Nelson Mandela's former prison cell will be auctioned off next January in Britain.

A highly symbolic object, which held prisoner 46664 on the penitentiary island of Robben Island, off Cape Town.

But Pretoria does not hear it that way, estimating Friday, December 24 that the object should be returned to the nation.

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,

It was in this

that Nelson Mandela spent most of

.

And UK auction house Guernsey's now prides itself on handing over to the highest bidder the key that unlocks that door at a major online event.

A key held until now by Christo Brand, former jailer of Nelson Mandela, who over time became a friend.

The information immediately made the Minister of Culture Nathi Mthethwa react on Friday, December 24, who believes that " 

 " and calls for the suspension of the sale.

The Mandela Foundation is equally offended, and considers that this key does not belong to an individual who could give it up.

Other items that belonged to Nelson Mandela, such as a shirt or glasses, have also been offered by his family and are expected to go on sale on January 28.

The goal, according to the same New York institution, is ultimately to finance a garden and a memory site in the village of Qunu

.

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• South Africa

• Nelson Mandela

• UK